Looking for a Star Wars Pillow Case

I sold a Pillow Case to be used in the Movie Grown Ups 2. You know how those things work, sometimes they make it, sometimes they don't. The movie opens today and I still don't know if it made it. So here is my challenge. The first person to post a picture of the Pillow on my facebook page (or post) will get a 40% off coupon for one shopping trip in my shop poppysgardengate.

Here's what it looks like.




You can use whatever means you can (phone, whatever) to get me a picture of this in the movie. Be creative and don't forget to like my page too.

Puppies are a PITA

Remember when we got the puppy? She was 7 weeks old. Just a cute teeny thing. If you've seen my posts about her peeing on the floor and teething on our arms, you probably wonder what all the fuss is about. She was such a cute little thing.

Here's the thing, puppy's grow and they don't realize just how big they are. Yes this is the same boy, and this is the same puppy three short long months later. And when she pees, it's a flood, and when she nibbles on your arm with her razor sharp puppy teeth, or jumps on you to play with her monster paws, she isn't really cute anymore.

Actually I still think she's cute, but that's because I'm the only one in the house she listens too. I'm working on her again. I was very busy the past few months and didn't pay enough attention to her. As a matter of fact I'm pleased to say she did not pee in the house for the first time yesterday. I'm hoping it's a trend not a fluke.

Anyhow, I just thought you might like the to see the pictures of the tiny pup. She's not done growing, so if we don't ship her back to the pound for bad behavior, I'll post more pics later.

Recipe for Success - Listening to Buyers

Oh I should be writing and posting a food recipe, I know. But unless I have something truly unique (and I do) why would you want to come here instead of Pinterest?

I thought I'd share a secret with you. It's called a buyer.

While my shop and most of my designs have come from my daughter Poppy, some have been inspire by buyers.

I love when buyers give me something absolutely impossible to make, because that's how I've come up with some of the best selling items in Poppy's Garden Gate.

Can you make an apron that isn't ruffled? Can it cost a little less? My sweetheart apron made with a 15" strip of 44" fabric - economical and still cute.

How about a tie. I need a tie out of your cute fabrics. This is where the inspiration for my Bow Ties came from. I still haven't made a suit tie yet. Haven't figured out how to make those economically, but they might come this summer.

Can you make me a purse that looks like this with a pocket and adjustable strap? I'd like it to hold more and close with a zipper. I'd been wanting to make a purse, or messenger bag, but didn't have the guts to try. The order for 3 different bags at $85 during the slow Summer season, convinced me to give it a try.

Another wonderful addition to my shop will come just in time for Wedding Season. I'll be making wedding garters out of cute genre fabrics. I made a custom New Kids on the Block one. Why didn't I think of that? Matching bow ties and garters for fun and funky weddings.

My daughter has the same type of inspiration from some of her buyers. Some of her best selling items, came from custom requests.

Indie Seller Tips - Refreshing Your Shop

I've been looking around at some shops lately and I see that for the past 4 years some of you have been selling the exact same merchandise. Many of you have improved and changed. But it's a very competitive market out there. If you're selling the same thing as you had in the past, or you're selling the same thing as 1000 other shops, why should people come to yours.

I've also found that my felt flowers, no matter how lovely, do not sell well on Artfire. I am going to revise my offerings at akaCINDERS. I will still have a limited flower section, but I just can't live off of the very few customers I have that love them. This is busy season, so I need to focus on other things, and work on it later.







I have focused heavily on PoppysGardenGate, which is my bread and butter. I have added several new items this year and it's paying off. Some I dreaded adding, but turns out they weren't so bad and fairly easy to make, like the new purse that is doing very well after only two short weeks online.

 I've added bow ties, and I'll be adding men's neckties soon. Not looking forward to that one either. I have even started to design my own fabrics on Spoonflower and I will continue to make more original fabrics as soon as I have free time.


I'm trying to be competitive, and it's working. I'm looking for trends and meeting buyers needs. That's what we need to do.


 Be flexible, even if you're old and set in your ways. If you're not satisfied with how your business is doing, take a good long look at it. Take a look at your competition. Is there anything you can do to make your business successful?

Life Without Etsy - Nearly Two Years Later

It's been nearly 2 years since My daughter Poppy and I were unceremoniously removed from the ranks as Etsy Sellers. Can you believe it? Well she had her shops shut down a bit earlier than mine, and she did brazenly open other shops and sold under different names until they found her and shut her down. Her offense? Mistaken reports of copyright infringement. You can read more in my post Etsy Shop Closings

First Poppy was mad, and rightfully so. She has been with Etsy since the early years, promoted it, and earned her living there. They were not even remotely kind or willing to listen. She wasted a lot of energy, trying to work things out, or break their system. She had already opened an Artfire shop, but back then, Artfire was just a startup, and not working the way it does today.

One day I suggested she go back to eBay, where she started. Statistically eBay as far more traffic than Etsy, so I thought it worth a try. Poppy knew that only her genre clothes would sell there, and sell they did. Sadly, she eventually had to give up her very popular Longstockings and beautiful designer clothing, but she found a niche on eBay with genre clothing and cosplay. After time, her business on Artfire grew nicely too.

This year, in this poor economy, Poppy will be earning close to double the money she made on Etsy. It took a lot of work and re-imaging, but she is a success once again. It really can be done. For those of you who think Etsy is the Sun and the Earth, take a step back from your computer and breathe the real air.

There are many sellers who have left Etsy for their own websites, craft shows, brick and mortar shops, and other online venues, with great success! I know this, because I've done it myself. I had to re-image too, but between my eBay store, websites, and Artfire stores, I've made a living too.

You can visit us at our websites. Poppy's is poppyswickedgarden.com
Mine are akacinders.com and poppysgardengate.com
They will all link you right through to our Artfire shops. We use the websites as a gateway to our shops. Artfire is great for this, because you don't need to be a member to buy, so it's just like having an online shop. And if we decide to switch venues, it's just as easy to do it this way.

Life on Mars - Labor Day

Who doesn't like a little time off work. Well, if you're like me, there is no such thing as time off. I've been working on a new design. A purse. And if all goes well, I'll be selling them in my Poppy's Garden Gate shop. And it looks like they're going well. So exciting! Making me think I might be able to make that messenger bag I've been talking about. Here's a sketch of the new purse.


It's even cuter in person. It's a REAL purse with inner pocket, zipper top, and adjustable strap.

Hard to believe I'm actually doing this. I thought it would be so hard, but, turns out it's not so hard after all.

That's the kind of thing I do on holiday's and weekends. (thus the name LABOR day)

Things have been very quiet in our neighborhood lately. I'm beginning to think there is something seriously wrong. But if it's good luck and peace and quiet, I'll take the seriously wrong.

This weekend was Doctor Who premier and marathon. The 9 year old and I watched and ate fish fingers and custard. I LOVE the new Doctor Who. After watching the old ones for so many years, I even went to conventions with my kids and met Jon Pertwee and Sylvester McCoy (3 and 7), this new version is such a blast. I love all 3 of the newest Doctors dearly.

And there is the annual dinner next door with the neighbor's high school friends on Sunday. Spaghetti this year. Great way to celebrate Labor Day, spaghetti with meatballs, meatballs the size of baseballs no less. And did I tell you how much the bees like spaghetti? Well, at least we have Monday for a real picnic.

Life on Mars - Business as UNusual

At the beginning of this year I wrote a blog about spending Four Months trying to increase my sales of my handmade jewelry and doing some freelance design work because I really didn't enjoy making the Aprons and Bow ties as much as I liked making the jewelry and designing.

It's really the sewing thing. I have to cut fabric on the floor and it hurts my aging hips and knees, and I have a hard time actually seeing what I'm sewing. Meaning I have to wear reading glasses to sew, then I can't see anything else when I look away. It's kind of a pain.

I guess I have to wear them to make jewelry too, but I just need to complain. It's who I am.

Well I did increase business in my jewelry shop a bit, by reviewing my product and making some serious changes. Mostly I added reasonably priced brooches and have sold a lot of those and some large orders too. But still, that shop income is nothing to make a living at.

As for my design career, I'm sure the small commissions I get will be good, and it is fun, but I'm not willing to give up my freedom at the moment, to go at it full time, and that's where the money really is.

I have however, found that opening up a real store on eBay has found me the income I really needed, through my Aprons, Bow Ties and Pillowcases. Yes, the thing I really didn't want to do. By opening a store, and a facebook page and more promotions, I've nearly doubled my sales from last year. However, that does include better jewelry sales, and freelance design commission, no matter how small those are.

I've resigned myself to sewing. I've even accepted it as my lot in life at this moment in time. I'll still keep my jewelry shop open, and work on new merchandise for a time, but my main focus right now is income. And after all, those designs are cute too. Now I need to finally design those messenger bags I've been wanting to make. And maybe, just maybe, I'll add some jewelry to my eBay store.

Life on Mars - A Little of This and That

Nothing earth shattering this week. No one was hauled off to the slammer or the psyche ward. No police on the lot at all. What a shock! As a matter of fact things were eerily quiet. Maybe that's because Poppy and her brood all went off for a couple day vacation. Ahhh peace and quiet.

Well I shouldn't say all was peace and quiet. Someone got stitches, but I won't say who or how (not me) but I will say that when I was offered a ride this week, I didn't take it. That's all I'm saying.

I got a bit of sewing done, like these awesome pillow cases and the Dr Who Bow tie. And I made some hair clips and headbands for a friend. And listed some pick your own hair clips. Busy Busy.  

Doesn't the Dink look like he could be a Doctor some day? We've decided it's about time the Doctor regenerated as either a woman or an American. Or maybe an American, woman. 

Garden is growing well to, and sales have been pretty good. I think I may be dying, because all in all, my life has improved. Things don't usually go this well unless there is impending disaster. Maybe there is some truth to the 2012 thing eh?

Here's looking to more interesting weeks in the future, but for now, we'll just have to settle for a little peace and quiet.

Update - Life without Etsy

Well it happened again, another shop suspended. Etsy did one of their sneak attacks Friday at the end of the Day and suspended the shop of a seller, without any warning. This is a seller whose sole income is that of her Etsy shop. These are the cruel people you work under and support. Etsy shuts down shops on Friday at the end of the day, because no one is there on the weekend to answer your emails or calls. I know because it happened to me.

Type in my old address and this is what you get akacinders.etsy.com

So how is life without Etsy? I just had to compile my finances for the past 5 months. I was on Etsy in January, sales very good, then I was booted off on February 11th. It was very hard for me to look at that month. While I was trying to negotiate with Etsy, and trying to figure out what to do, I had NO sales for 2 weeks. I was misty eyed as I filled out the financial statements.

Then in March when I decided to get back on the horse and fight, I started making sales again. I really love Artfire, and my shops had sales, but the traffic is still not as good as Etsy. Although I didn't want to, I went back to eBay too. I spent weeks trying to figure out my niche there. I made some sales, but it was 1/4 of what I made in January.

April got a little better, some Artfire Sales and a new Product on eBay that was selling. Still not as much as I was making last year on Etsy.

May, now there was a month. But mostly it was due to hours of blogging work and exposure from a blogged item. Now if only I can get more people to blog my work, life could be rosy. My sales in May were actually higher than my Sales at Etsy last year. But we will see how that goes when I'm not freshly blogged.

By the way, I am selling my Genre Aprons and Clutches. My Jewelry suffered terribly and I was just getting off the ground with it on Etsy. Very disheartening, as it was to My daughter Poppy when she got her shops shut down too.

So even though it was a struggle, there is life without Etsy. If you ever get yourself into the same predicament, please feel free to contact me HERE and I'll help you get through it.

May 23 Giveaway - Cherries Jubilee Apron

Today is a Great Giveaway! Cherries Jubilee Retro Apron. It's so cute and just in time for Northern Cherry Blossoms.

This Apron is so cute it has little bows and it even has a Lace Apron. Remember, You have to follow my blog and the other rules HERE.

This month I have a special Deal on Aprons in my Poppy's Garden Gate shop. Buy Any Apron $24 or more and get a free Pot Holder. To win this Apron, just go to my shop and leave the name of your favorite Apron in the comments.

Good Luck!!!

The Winner of the Wolverine Accessory Clip is Toasty Angel - Congrats!

May 6 Giveaway - $30 Gift Certificate - PoppysGardenGate

Today's Prize is a little bit bigger and a little more work. You didn't think they were all going to be easy did you? A $30 Gift certificate for my Poppy's Garden Gate Artfire Shop. This prize will be awarded to The Entrant who has followed the rules stated HERE, you must be a follower AND you must be signed up for my mailing list. Don't worry, I mostly babble here, just occasional news and discounts for my shops. Easy to do, right over there -->

There is one more little thing I'd like you to do. Just Facebook post or Tweet the contest or my blog and put the link to your socialization in the comments. Now to make it even easier, there are little linkies at the bottom of each post, and a Blog linkie under Sociable right there ---->
at the top of the page.

The winner of this prize will receive it Monday by email. Just in case you want to buy DH or Sig O something for Father's Day :)

Good luck and come back Monday for more. Remember - No limits!

The Winner of the May 4 Rooster Apron is mkjmc Congrats!

Etsy Shop Closings

This week I'm making it personal. My blog will be in 3 parts. First a plea for your help, second a brief description of My Daughter Poppy and her work and life and third I will try to make it as clear as possible why Etsy closed her shop so you will understand how to protect yourself.

If you read any of this please part one. I am making a request of buyers and sellers, to contact Etsy with an email at support@etsy.com with the subject line "Why is PoppysWickedGarden closed "

In your own words mention that you've looked for her shop, she was in a treasury, or whatever reason, you noticed that her shop is closed and you'd like to know why. Please only ask about her main shop. I am trying to flood their email. I know there are many shops closed, including one of my own, but she doesn't deserve the blanket closures.

I'm going to give you a little background on Poppy. She's a single mother of two boys who started her business when she was struggling to find work to support her little ones. She couldn't find a job that paid enough and she stumbled on eBay. Living with me at the time, she said “I can do that” of the reconstructed band and genre shirts that were selling. So she started Poppy's Wicked Garden.

Eventually she discovered Etsy and opened her first shop with reconstructs. She felt that she would fit in to Etsy better if she made original fashion, so she did that and moved her reconstructs to XpoppyswickedgardenX, last fall we opened PoppysGardenGate with home accessories together  (in my name) and we opened a children's shop PoppySprouts (in her name). She recently had her 4 year Etsyversary.

Poppy was not only able to support her boys, but help support me at my job loss and other issues. She was able to support her family on the income from Etsy alone. She's a strong woman who has been through a lot. Recently she had a near fatal bout with a ruptured appendix and collapsed lung. She bounced back. When our house caught fire and we were forced to leave it and most our possessions, she bounced back. Still she works hard with a smile on her face and determination. Even after Etsy closed her shops, she immediately opened another shop off Etsy with great determination.

Etsy closed down all three of Poppy's shops and My shop that she was involved in. They have answered her, but have yet to respond to my inquiry.

See email notices from Jason at Legal

Hi

Etsy has suspended your selling privileges indefinitely. Our system was forced to take this action after a history of Intellectual Property notices about content in your shop. Etsy responds to a proper Intellectual Property notice by (1) removing or disabling access to material claimed to be subject of infringing activity; and (2) removing and discontinuing service to repeat offenders.

The Policy and the notice requirements are found at: http://www.etsy.com/copyright_policy.php.

I'm very sorry about this, but Etsy must comply with it's policy.

Jason
Legal Support

When you use Etsy you agree to our policies.

As you know, Etsy was contacted many times about the content in your shop. We were told that certain material in your shop infringed on certain intellectual property. These notices gave Etsy reason to believe that content violated Etsy's policies.

Each time we were contacted, we convoed you and emailed you. We take allegations of intellectual property infringement very seriously because it may have serious consequences.

Etsy's policies are clear. As explained in the email that was sent to you each time, Etsy terminates accounts when we receive repeat notices of infringements. We received repeat notices of infringements about your shop. The system terminated your selling privileges.

Jason
Legal Support

Please note that He mentions shop, not shops. No explanation as to why they are all closed and no response to follow up inquiry

What Poppy sold is legal under the First Sale Doctrine. She worked out the issues with those that contacted her, but Etsy will not take that into consideration. Under the First Sale Doctrine, you can take your purchase, alter it and resell. It is not copyright infringement. You paid for the original material and you can do whatever you want with it.

Etsy did not give Poppy the option of closing the offending shop and keep her other shops open. They will not answer me as to why they closed my shop.

Although you may not have copyright infringements, you can be called out, and Etsy does not investigate. Another Etsy friend's shop is closed because competition posed as a company lawyer and contacted Etsy. They apparently do not have the staff or inclination to follow up.

Beware, Etsy is cleaning house. Many shops are now closed.

You can find Poppy at Poppyswickedgarden.artfire.com 

And my PoppysGardenGate at PoppysGardenGate.artfire.com